We Can Choose Our Delusions

Merriam-Webster defines delusion as “a belief that is not true; a false idea.” But who’s to decide what is true?

Being tagged as delusional carries a negative, unpleasant connotation – calling to mind straight jackets, or maybe some scenes from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” But thanks to our powers of perception – and Drs. Bob Duke and Art Markman – you can choose to change your definition of delusion.

When you get down to it, much of human existence is delusional. We use our imaginations to fill in meaning, value, expectations and definitions around a small sliver of what we can actually observe in our surroundings. Our mental state – essentially our level of happiness or unhappiness – is based on how we choose to define and perceive our circumstances.

Two people in the same exact circumstances could choose to perceive the situation very differently: one could be happy while the other is miserable. It all comes down to the values you choose to assign to different things in your situation.

It’s an amazing gift and a wonderful tool to learn to wield. Ultimately, all perception is completely subjective and can be infinitely debated for accuracy. And as Art points out, accuracy is overrated!

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